President Obama has endured probably the hardest first year of any president. He came in with a financial system in meltdown with two wars not going well and a
middle-class suffering from job losses, in danger of losing their homes or at the very least, upside down on their mortgages, and drowning in debt. When you consider where we were as a nation this time last year, things have changed for the better already, and policies instituted by the president are set to make even a bigger difference this next year. The problem is, things were in such a mess, no one except Superman (and perhaps, not even he) could put things right. Because many are still suffering or because they don't agree with what Obama has done, he continues to receive criticism from both the left and the right sides of the political spectrum.
Personally, I'm not too worried about Obama because I think he really does understand the dilemmas of ordinary people, and I continue to think he is the smartest man we have had serve in this position for a long, long time. That doesn't mean he doesn't have room for improvement because of his lack of experience. No one comes into this job that is unlike any other (and, BTW, that everyone who has held it says nothing can prepare you for) as entirely proficient. But, I have seen him continually grow into the job, and I think he will do an even better job in the coming years.
Here's what I am worried about--CONGRESS. I was listening to Evan Bayh last night on PBS's Charlie Rose Show, and he made the following three points about what Congress must deal with this year:
- Economic growth and job creation
- Getting the deficit under control including controlling spending
- The middle class economic squeeze
He summed up by stating that politicians who aren't aware of the importance of these issues and don't work to solve them are ignoring them at their own political peril. I have been disappointed at Democrats as well as Republicans who continue to put their personal desires and the welfare of their districts ahead of what is best for the country and future generations. However, Republicans who not only do not support the agenda of this Democratic administration, but indeed are trying to make sure President Obama is not successful, continue to be the weak link in Washington. They were OK with Bush running up deficits for unnecessary wars and to expedite his policies to help rich individuals and corporations become richer at the expense of the poor and middle class. I seem to recall VP Cheney shrugging and emphatically stating that "deficits don't matter." Now, Republicans want to cut, cut, and cut spending even more as the only way to eliminate deficits no matter that it might cause more energy dependence, a less educated work force, stripped funding for retirement and social programs, lack of health care, and perhaps most pressing, a semi-recovery of the economy, but one that doesn't produce the jobs that are so desperately needed.
I don't think any of us disagree with Bayh that we need to focus on the three problems bulleted above. But, we need to deal with them honestly. I am tired of Republicans misrepresenting the problems, the solutions, and President Obama's approach when they have refused to meet or dialogue about deficit issues that may determine whether our country continues to be a vibrant, strong world leader. What kinds of people are being elected who worry more about misrepresenting facts just to get something over on Obama and win seats in the midterm elections, no matter how it affects the health of the country? Republicans have been good of late at creating narratives that simplify complex problems so that they are easily understood. But, in this deficit debate, they have not merely created the wrong narrative, they have gone all the way to mythmaking.
More tomorrow on how some Democrats are selfishly trying to subvert the president by their shortsighted self protection measures.